Norton 360: features and plans explained
An independent overview of Norton's consumer security plans, what each tier adds, and what to check about renewal pricing before you subscribe.
- Applies to
- Norton consumer plans sold in the US
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- About 9 minutes
- Updated
Quick answer
Norton 360 plans bundle antivirus with a VPN, password manager, cloud backup and scam protection. The main differences between tiers are the number of devices, backup storage, parental controls and, in the US, LifeLock identity-theft services. First-year prices are promotional; check the renewal price before you buy.
What is Norton?
Norton is a consumer security brand owned by Gen Digital Inc., the same company behind Avast and AVG. Its main products are Norton AntiVirus Plus, the Norton 360 family of plans, and, in the US, Norton 360 with LifeLock, which adds identity-theft services.
Key features
- Antivirus and malware protection
- Real-time scanning for viruses, ransomware and other malware, plus protection against phishing websites.
- Scam protection
- Current Norton 360 plans advertise tools that look for scams in websites, texts and deepfake videos, and an AI assistant called Norton Genie. No scam detector catches everything.
- VPN
- Included with Norton 360 plans for the number of devices in your plan. VPN availability depends on your country.
- Password manager
- Stores and fills passwords across your devices.
- Cloud backup
- Backs up selected files from Windows PCs. The storage allowance grows with the plan tier, and the feature is not available on Mac.
- Dark web monitoring and privacy tools
- Alerts when certain personal details appear in data leaks. Higher tiers add tools to help remove your details from data-broker sites. Monitoring tells you about a problem; it does not prevent it.
- Parental control
- Included from Norton 360 Deluxe upwards. Not available on Windows in S mode or on ARM-based Windows PCs.
Norton plans compared
This summary reflects Norton's US website in November 2026. Plans and prices change often and vary by country, so treat it as a guide to what to look for, not a price list.
| Plan | Devices | Notable inclusions | First year vs renewal (US, Nov 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norton AntiVirus Plus | 1 | Core antivirus and online threat protection | Check Norton's current offer |
| Norton 360 Standard | 3 | Antivirus, scam protection, VPN, password manager, dark web monitoring, 2 GB cloud backup | $39.99 first year, renews at $94.99 per year |
| Norton 360 Deluxe | 5 | Everything in Standard, plus 50 GB cloud backup, privacy monitor and parental control | $49.99 first year, renews at $124.99 per year |
| Norton 360 with LifeLock Select Plus | 10 | Everything in Deluxe, plus 250 GB backup, LifeLock identity-theft protection and credit alerts | $99.99 first year, renews at $189.99 per year |
| LifeLock Advantage and Ultimate Plus | Up to unlimited | Adds credit reports and wider identity coverage | Check Norton's current offer |
Norton's site states that subscriptions renew automatically, that renewal can be billed up to 35 days before the renewal date, and that renewal prices may be higher than the first-year price. Annual plans are advertised with a 60-day money-back guarantee. Read the current terms at checkout.
Norton vs Microsoft Defender
Microsoft Defender Antivirus is built into Windows 11 and 10 at no extra cost and provides solid baseline protection. Norton may be worth paying for if you will actually use the extras: the VPN, password manager, cloud backup, parental control or identity services.
| Consideration | Microsoft Defender | Norton 360 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Included with Windows | Annual subscription; renewal costs more than the first year |
| Malware protection | Yes, built in | Yes |
| VPN, password manager, backup | Not bundled | Included, depending on plan |
| Multiple devices and phones | Windows PCs only | PCs, Macs, phones and tablets, up to the plan limit |
Pros and limitations
Potential advantages
- One subscription covers antivirus, VPN, passwords and backup.
- Covers Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone in one account.
- Money-back guarantee period on annual plans.
Things to consider
- Renewal prices are much higher than first-year offers.
- You may pay for extras you already have elsewhere.
- Some features are missing on Mac, ARM PCs and Windows in S mode.
- No product guarantees protection against every threat or scam.
Safe buying and installation checklist
- Type Norton's web address yourself rather than following an ad, pop-up, email or phone call.
- Compare the first-year price with the renewal price shown in the subscription details.
- Uninstall any other full antivirus first, such as a preinstalled McAfee trial. See our uninstall guide.
- After installing, open Norton and confirm the subscription and protection status inside the app.
- Set a calendar reminder before the renewal date if you may want to cancel.
Frequently asked questions
Is Norton better than Microsoft Defender?
Both provide real-time malware protection. Independent lab results for both are usually strong. Norton's advantage is the bundle of extra services; whether that is worth the renewal price depends on how many of them you will use.
Can I run Norton and Defender at the same time?
When Norton is installed, Windows turns off Defender's real-time protection automatically so the two do not conflict. You can optionally enable Defender's periodic scanning as a second opinion.
How do I stop Norton renewing automatically?
Sign in to your account on Norton's official website and turn off automatic renewal in the subscription settings. Uninstalling the software does not cancel the subscription.
Norton is not working on my PC. What should I try?
See our step-by-step guide: Norton not opening or updating.
Sources and further reading
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